Sidewalk Labs Plans to Cover NYC With Free Wi-Fi

NEW YORK�Google-backedSidewalk Labshas announced�it is acquiring�Control Group and Titan, and that the two will merge to form Intersection, which will then oversee the rollout ofLinkNYCthis fall.

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Later, Intersection will seek to install�similar technology in other cities, according toBloomberg. The LinkNYC�network is meant to blanket New York City with free, superfast Wi-Fi.

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In September, tall, thin pillars with digital tablet interfaces inside and large ads placed on their outsides will begin to replace New York's pay telephone booths. In addition to offering free wireless Internet access to anyone in a within a 150-foot radius, they will include amenities like free phone charging, phone calling, Internet browsing, and access to local services and information.

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The image, at right, shows a rendering of the proposed Link NYC pillars, found on the Sidewalk Labs Flickr account.